Category: Arizona

I took a drive out to Sedona to spend the day there since I had heard what am amazing place it is. The red sandstone formations look amazing in the sun…the rocks look like they are on fire. The first place I headed to was Red Rock State Park since I wanted to see the beautiful landscape, and do some hiking. The park ranger was really nice, and even though he gave me some guidance, I still managed to get lost for a bit. Thankfully, I found my way since some of the trails aren’t clear and you can lose your way. I didn’t find it difficult at all. I spent a couple hours there, and went back to the ranger to get some advice on where to go next. You can tell I did not have a plan, just that I wanted to see the best parts of Sedona in a day.

I decided to go hike Cathedral Rock since I’ve heard that allot of people feel at peace, or even angelic presences there. Others claim it is part of some sort of spiritual vortex. It is one of the most popular spots in the area. I think you can’t help feel amazing after hiking the trail, and seeing  the beautiful view. I thought the trail was not too difficult; it was more scary going down than up. You are going up, and some parts are narrow, but I just kept going without a break.

I have the proof that I finished the trail. The view is amazing…there is no feeling like getting to the top. You just have to spend some time soaking it all in.

After, my scary climb back down, I headed to Bell Rock where I walked the trail around it, and spent some time walking around the formation. This was fine, I just ended up going further than I wanted, and having to go back the same way. I should mention that the weather was perfect…I was really blessed that it was not hot.

The chapel of the Holy Cross is sculpted into the butte of Sedona is recommended site as well. I drove past it since there is a road that leads to all the beautiful attractions. It’s something you want to stop and see since it is beautiful!

My day went by too fast…After all this hiking I had to stop and get some food before I made the trip back to Apache Junction. I was disorganized and did not pack food, which I highly recommend you do. I enjoyed my day hiking and seeing the gorgeous red rock formations. I picked the places I thought were most beautiful, and what the cute park ranger suggested. Sedona is amazing and cannot be described in words, but feelings and sensations. I hope I was able to convey why you should visit, and that you will definitely get something out of the experience. I feel gratitude that I was able to visit, and spend time there though it was brief. I had a really great time in Arizona, and actually can’t wait to go back and see more of the national parks like the Grand Canyon and Chaley.

 

The next day I started out at the Heard Museum in Phoenix which focuses on the native peoples of the Southwest. It contains historic and contemporary artifacts, as well as art exhibits. Heard offers free tours throughout the day so I had to take one. The guide took us around the museum and showed us various items like baskets, kachina dolls, and traditional dress, explaining the significance of the pieces. The guide even recommended places I should go to in the area…if only I had more time!

The outside area had works by different native sculptures, and a monument to the natives that have served in the military. I was struck by the beautiful poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye and glad I took a photograph of it. The store has a great selection of jewelry that I could only window shop. Heard is a great place to spend time learning more about the native peoples of the Southwest, as well as viewing some great artwork.

We had lunch at the Barrio Queen in Scottsdale. The guacamole was made in front of me, and had pomegranate seeds in it, which gave it an amazing flavor! My friend was pregnant so no drinks for us.  The decor is great since it is done in the Day of the Dead style, which really appeals to me. One day I will go to Mexico for the celebration. I also had tacos at the Barrio Queen and they were great too. I also recommend Scottsdale if you want silver jewelry since there are so many shops with so many beautiful pieces…

We drove around the area so I could see Camelback Mountain, which does look like a camel, and after to Pinnacle Peak. Pinnacle Peak is a granite summit that has trails you can hike, but you have to climb to get to the top. We walked around for a little so I could continue to soak up the landscape, but I did not climb to the top. I’m a hiker, not a rock climber. Walking around does make one hungry so we went to this amazing local burrito place for dinner, Los Favoritos. We have great Mexican restaurants in Chicago, so I am picky, but this place was delicious! My mouth is watering just writing about it.

Later that evening in Apache Junction, we built a fire and watched the sunset. You could hear the coyotes since they roam the area. Wine and great conversation followed, along with a full moon, which all together made it a great evening. I am really happy I had the opportunity to stay in Apache Junction since it felt so much more isolated and rugged…there are people there that still ride horses to get around.

The next day I visited the Desert Botanical Garden to see the different plants and flowers of Arizona. It’s a beautiful place to walk around. I’d also love to come for one of the concerts they host. When I was there, they had a special Day of the Dead exhibit with altars made by local artists. As I mentioned, I’m fascinated by Dias del los Muertos.  The garden has a great collection of cacti and agave…as well as all kinds of beautiful landscape that you can walk around and photograph.

I’m a fan of cacti and desert plants. It’s a beautiful place to spend a couple hours if you like gardens and enjoy conservatories.

I drove to Canyon Lake since I had heard it is another must see spot. The lake was formed after the Mormon Flat Damn was constructed in the 1920s. The drive isn’t easy (I normally don’t drive through mountains), but worth it. It is a campground so you can camp there.  I kept pulling over since there was so many beautiful views…it is a photographer’s dream! I drove as far as I could then spent some time taking it in. I’m glad I went later in the day so I got to watch the sun setting. It was the perfect way to end the day!

My trip to Phoenix was my first time in Arizona. I went to visit a friend that moved back there, and had a great time catching up with her, and making new friends. I definitely fell in love with the beautiful scenery, since I made time to drive to Sedona, which is an amazing place. There are so many things to do that you need to rent a car because you will have to drive some distances depending on what you want to see. I only had four days there so I didn’t venture too far but mainly stayed in the Phoenix area. I definitely want to take another trip to Arizona to spend more time at the national parks. Having great friends there just makes it much more fun.

I started out in Apache Junction with a trip to Goldfield Ghost Town. This used to be a mining town that was formed in the late 19th century due to the gold rush that occurred there…after all the gold was mined it became a ghost town since the population left. Now it’s a tourist spot that has been recreated to look like it once did. You can go through the different shops.

There is even a church there that has the ten commandments cowboy style. There is also a train that takes you around and you can go down to the mines.

I really enjoyed Lulu’s Bordello and even took a tour of it. What would a town in the Wild West be without its brothel? The girls must have done well since their rooms were pretty nice. You can see the old Sears’ catalog where they ordered their corsets from.

I learned where “shot glass”comes from: since the size of your bullet determined how much alcohol you received. They bordello even had its own local currency called “floozy coins.”

I’m sure you can figure out what it bought… The tour is pretty cheap, but informative and entertaining. If you’re a history nerd like me, it’ll appeal to you even more.

I really enjoyed horseback riding through the beautiful western terrain. Ok Corrals is next to Goldfield. My friend’s parents were gracious enough to take me horseback riding.  I live in Chicago so this was a nice change of pace for me, and riding horses happens pretty rarely… We rode for over an hour through the desert landscape; and the guide was very nice, and told us allot about the area, wildlife, and plants.

After all these fun activities, I couldn’t wait to eat. Dinner was at Mammoth Saloon which kept up with the Wild West theme. They serve burgers and other popular bar stuff like chicken tenders. I was happy with my beer and burger. The outdoor area has a great view of the Superstition Mountains, which I was told no one has ever come out of alive since many go hunting for gold but never return. I love spooky stories!